“SkinCeuticals’ Silymarin CF has been specifically designed to provide advanced environmental protection for oily and blemish-prone skin.” It’s also able to help reduce oiliness, refine skin texture, and visibly improve skin clarity and fine lines. “Traditionally, many people with oily skin struggled to use a vitamin C serum,” explains Romano. Phloretin CF is for normal to combination skin and those with hyperpigmentation, while new Silymarin CF has been specifically formulated for people who have oilier skin types. SkinCeuticals has two other frontrunners that cater to different skin concerns.
But don’t just reach for the brand’s most Instagrammed C. SkinCeuticals’ vitamin C serums are effective because of their precise formulation, which is able to deliver C to the skin thanks to a combination of pure L-ascorbic acid, a pH within the 2.0-3.5 range, and a concentration between 10 and 20 percent. “Other products will be in a base that’s too irritating on the skin, so they won’t be effective,” she warns. Some vitamin C serums contain derivatives that don’t effectively penetrate the skin or provide the results we crave (Romano cites ascorbyl palmitate and magnesium ascorbyl phosphate). But, says Romano, there are ways to find a frontrunner. Seeking a vitamin C serum in a crammed market can be daunting. For example, the C E Ferulic Serum, the brand’s most beloved vitamin C product, has a whopping 30 years of scientific research behind it. And that’s due to the label’s long history of antioxidant research and innovation, backed up by science. The best time to apply a vitamin C serum is “in the morning after cleansing”.Īdvanced medical-grade skincare brand SkinCeuticals is the authority when it comes to vitamin C. If you have had sensitivities in the past with the power-packed antioxidant, heed this advice: “Night-time use is normally associated with irritation, as this is when most people are using a retinol serum,” explains Romano. “Vitamin C in the form L-ascorbic acid is a potent antioxidant that provides protection against premature ageing by blocking free-radical damage,” says Romano. If you’re looking to boost your skin’s brightness, improve skin tone and help protect your skin against everyday aggressors such as pollution and smog, vitamin C is a good place to start. Romano advises applying your serums and other products from thinnest to thickest, meaning serums are usually a precursor to your moisturiser and SPF.
“Using these three active ingredients – plus cleanser, moisturiser, and of course the non-negotiable SPF – is a robust skincare routine that your skin will thank you for in the long term,” she says.įor application, there are some things to know. She cites vitamin A (retinol), vitamin B (niacinamide), and vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid) as essentials in a skin routine. If you’re new to serums, Romano suggests learning your ABCs. “The moisturising properties of serums allow them to deliver hydration to the skin from the inside out, rather than just from the top skin layer down,” says Romano. In fact, their formulation makes them ideal for the job. But don’t think serums won’t deliver on hydration just because they are lightweight.